With the redesign the card lost its “soul”. The target audience was not intended for those who want status (although that was the one of best and quickest ways to get one). After all status at the Ritz means almost nothing. It was intended to those who will stay at the Ritz and use the certificates.

Now getting to a meaningful status is much harder through credit cards. If the 15 nights are so important, the regular cards will give it to you for $95. This is NOT the reason to keep or get the card, as there are cheaper and easier ways to get those 15 nights. Now that you cannot stuck them anyway it matters little.

I intend to keep it for at least another year and see how useful the certificate it. The things I really value about the card, apart from the meingful status which is gone, are still worth the annual fee which usually for me is actually negative.